Doctrine

THE BIBLE

We believe the Bible is the verbally inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word of God. As God’s complete written revelation to man, it is our supreme and final authority in all matters of doctrine, faith, practice, and life. II Timothy 3:16-17.

THE TRINITY

We believe in the one, true God revealed in the Bible and eternally existent in three persons Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Mark 12:29, Matthew 28:19.

THE SON

We believe that Jesus Christ was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He is truly God and truly man and as such lived a perfect, sinless life. He died on the cross, the sacrifice for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. He is now seated at the right hand of God the Father to intercede for His own. Matthew 1:20-25, Philippians 2:5-11, Colossians 1:13-20.

THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person of the Godhead, not an impersonal force. It is His work to convict men of sin, regenerate the believing sinner, and indwell and empower the believer for godly living and service.

We are not in sympathy with the modern charismatic movement with its emphasis on speaking in tongues as an evidence of the Spirit’s fullness, that healing is always God’s will, and that all Christians are to be blessed with material wealth. Such an emphasis is contrary to Scripture. John 16:7-15, I Corinthians 13:8-10, Ephesians 5:18.

MAN

We believe that man was created in the image of God and in innocence from which he fell by voluntary sin. The result of his sin is physical and spiritual death, a condition that is passed by birth to all of Adam’s race. Only by trusting in the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His finished work on Calvary can a person be forgiven and possess eternal life. Genesis 1:26-27, Romans 3:10, 23, Romans 5:12-21.

THE SECOND COMING

We believe in the personal, bodily, imminent, pre-tribulation, and pre-millennial return of Jesus Christ, which is known as the Rapture of the Church. At His coming in the air the righteous dead shall be raised first, and the living Christians shall be transformed to be like Christ, without tasting death, and shall rise to meet the Lord in the air. We also believe in the personal and visible return of Jesus Christ to the earth with His saints at the end of the seven year tribulation. Christ will then establish His Kingdom on earth for a thousand year reign of righteousness and peace. I Thessalonians 4:13- 18, John 14:3, Revelation 20:4, Luke 21:34-36.

THE ETERNAL STATE

We believe in the bodily resurrection of all the dead. The saved dead are raised to everlasting conscious blessedness and shall forever be with the Lord. The unsaved dead are raised in everlasting conscious condemnation and torment in the Lake of Fire (Hell). I Corinthians 15:51-57, 1 Thessalonians 4:17, II Thessalonians 1:7-9, Revelation 20:11-15, Revelation 21:1-8.

SALVATION

We believe that men are justified solely by faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ. It is the privilege of the believer to rejoice in his salvation on the basis of God’s Word, which assures us of eternal life.

We affirm the security of the believer based on the promises of the Word and the nature of salvation, which is entirely apart from works or any worthiness on the part of the recipient of salvation. John 3:16, 5:24, 10:27-29, Romans 8:38-39, Ephesians 2:8-9; I John 2:19

THE CHURCH

We believe the Church is made up of all those who are born again by faith in Jesus Christ since the day of Pentecost, and that it is distinct from Israel. The Scriptures describe the Church as the Body and Bride of Christ, and of course, He is the head and the Bridegroom. Every believer should unite in membership with a local congregation of believers for the purpose of worship, service, edification, and the propagation of the Gospel. Ephesians 5:23-32, Hebrews 10:25, Matthew 18:15-20.

ORDINANCES

We believe that there are two ordinances — believer’s baptism and the Lord’s Supper. These acts are an outward witness to indicate an inward work of grace. As such they are not to be viewed as sacramental, for they do not impart grace to the participants. They are rather acts of obedience to the Lord’s commands.

After salvation, the believer should follow the Lord in baptism. It is to be administered in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Baptism pictures the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ and the believer’s union with Christ in these events.

The Lord’s Supper is to be observed by believers to remember the Lord’s death and in anticipation of His promise to come again. Matthew 28:19, Romans 6:1-6, I Corinthians 11:23-34

SEXUAL CONDUCT

We believe that marriage was instituted of God for one man and one woman to be so united until death alone parts them. The Scripture is clear both to heterosexual and homosexual relations.

As to heterosexual relations, whether pre-marital or extra-marital, both are clearly forbidden by God.

As to homosexual relations, whether man with man or woman with woman, both are a violation of God’s Word as it is given in both the Old and New Testaments. Genesis 1:27; 2:21 -25, I Corinthians 5:7, 6:9; 7:2-5; Romans 1:21-28, Matthew 18:15-17, Leviticus 18:20, 22-24.